Bernard Lewis (born 10 February 1926) is an English businessman, who is the founder and owner of the River Island fashion brand and clothing chain.
He was born on 10 February 1926, and educated at the Jewish Free School, and Northern Polytechnic Institute.
He assisted his parents in ’ greengrocer as a child and acquired valuable skills such as learning how to price stock, understand customers' preferences and reduce waste.
[2] Lewis opened his first fruit and vegetable shop in the North London area (on Holloway Road) at the age of 20 [3] and began selling clothing, primarily blouses and skirts, then dresses, in the 1940s.
[2] In 1968, he married Jennifer Oldham, née Johnston, who modeled and acted under the name Jenny Meredith.